Every night I sing a song to each of my boys. Alex is very predictable, he likes to hear Madonna's Drowned World/Substitute for Love. But Nathan likes to switch it up. Some of his favourites include What A Wonderful World (he calls it Trees of Green), The Rainbow Connection (the Muppet Rainbow Song), Sentimental Journey (the Train Song), Glory of Love, The Rose and Sing A Rainbow. He'll be fine for a few weeks and then he'll demand a new song to be added to the repetoire.
A few days ago, he demanded a new song and I drew a blank. All I could think of were really depressing songs from Les Miserables or pop songs that I only half knew the lyrics to. I try to pick songs that have a nice message and that I don't mind singing (since I'll have to do it a lot if he likes it). Singing a child to sleep with On My Own or Empty Chairs at Empty Tables just doesn't seem right. And don't get me started on the lyrics for Pink Floyd (my husband suggested Comfortably Numb or Mother). I think I'll wait until he's already a depressed teenager before singing messages that love is hopeless and he should trust no one.
I'm sitting there, trying to think of something good and knowing he hasn't been fond of the Disney selections I've tried in the past (it's unnatural but what can you do?) when I was struck by inspiration.
Sheldon's sickie song, Soft Kitty, from the show Big Bang Theory.
So I tried it (and yes, I already knew the words). It's a simple little song.
Soft kitty, warm kitty, little ball of fur.
Happy kitty, sleepy kitty, purr, purr, purr.
That's it. Less than 30 seconds to sing and that's if you do it twice.
And Nathan loved it. He's asked for it again and again since. He sits in my lap and pretends to be a little kitten purring and rubbing his head against my arms.
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